Case Study: Thales Alenia Space achieves better shock prediction with Hexagon’s Actran SEA

Actran’s Virtual SEA helps Thales Alenia Space Italy obtain better predictions for shock environments

Thales Alenia Space, a manufacturer of space vehicles, needed a more accurate method to predict mechanical shock environments during space launches. Traditional semi-empirical methods for evaluating shock from pyrotechnic devices led to non-optimal structures and higher costs. To solve this, they worked with vendor Hexagon and employed their Actran’s Statistical Energy Analysis (Actran SEA) software for high frequency vibroacoustic simulation.

Hexagon's solution allowed Thales Alenia Space to automatically generate models from existing finite element data, extending analysis to higher frequencies. The Actran SEA method provided reliable shock response predictions that correlated very well with experimental data, even for unconventional satellite structures where previous methods failed. This provided the company with a powerful and more precise tool for ensuring the safety of on-board equipment.

Thales Alenia Space

Stefano Destefanis

Vibroacoustic Specialist